West Nile cases discovered

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State health officials say five more cases of west Nile virus in humans have been reported in rural Nevada.

That brings the total number of cases in Nevada this year to eight.

"While we are experiencing cooler temperatures in northern Nevada, mosquitoes infected with west Nile virus continue to be in our environment," said division administrator Alex Haartz in a prepared statement on the problem.

He urged people to practice preventive measures to avoid being bitten including the use of a repellent containing DEET, Picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil. He said people should also remove standing water around their houses and make sure screens and doors fit.

Two of the cases were in Churchill county, one of whom suffered the more severe neuroinvasive form of the disease. There were also two cases in Elko County and one in Nye.

The previous three cases were in Pershing and Clark counties.